Evaluating occupational health and safety interventions for reducing solid aerosol exposure in the gold mining industry

Solid aerosol exposure remains a critical occupational health challenge in the gold mining industry, with workers frequently exposed to silica dust, diesel particulate matter (DPM), welding and other metal fumes, and metal-laden dusts. This study evaluated occupational health and safety interventions across six gold mines in Ghana to assess the effectiveness of existing control measures and identify gaps in compliance. Data were collected through site observations and unstructured interviews with employees and safety officers, focusing on engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls. Compliance was analyzed across workgroups and summarized in two comparative tables. The results revealed substantial variability in adherence to control measures. Mine A demonstrated the strongest performance, with 73% compliance supported by sealed cabins, wet drilling, ventilation, and fit-tested respirators. Mines C and D showed mixed outcomes, with compliance ranging from 33% to 42% but frequent inadequacies linked to inconsistent PPE use and weak enforcement. Mines E and F recorded the lowest compliance (24% and 15%, respectively), where behavioral noncompliance and limited supervisory oversight undermined otherwise available controls. Across all sites, engineering controls were consistently more effective than administrative interventions or PPE alone, while DPM and welding fumes remained poorly managed. These findings underscore the need for standardized engineering controls—such as local exhaust ventilations systems and enclosed and sealed cabins—mandatory fit testing, continuous exposure monitoring, employee safety capacity building, and stronger behavioral enforcement to reduce health risks and enhance sustainable occupational safety practices in Ghana’s gold mining sector.